Many years ago, I went to sea for an extended period on USS Triton. She was the largest submarine in the world at the time (402 feet long). Displayed in the wardroom was a plaque with the (approximate) Latin phrase: "Ave nobilis dux, iterum factum est." I was told that this plaque commemorated the Triton's submerged circumnavigation of the world, and the Latin, loosely translated, meant "Hail noble warriors, we have done it again." (Alluding to Magellens's circumnavigtion of the globe). The plaque was specifically designed for public presentation to the government of Spain.The story, as told to me, is that an error in spelling caused the Latin phrase to come out: "Ave nobilis dux, iterum sactum est." (Loosely translated: "Hail noble warriors, we've been had again)," causing much embarrassment for the U.S. and much amusement for the Spanish. I've often wondered whether the Latin phrases cited give credence to the story.

Agree with both Bill and Bingley. It translates as "Yo, top dawg, we've done it again." I can't find any Latin word which begins with either "sac" or "sact" and is neuter in gender. In fact, no Latin nouns begin with either kind of stem.

It looks more like the fourth principle part of a verb, either sago, sagere, segi, sactum on the model of ago, agere, egi, actum or sacio, sacere, seci, sactum on the model of facio, facere, feci, factum but I can't find anything for either of those WAGs. The closest I come is sacrum which could mean accursed if dux were neuter.

Multiple vertebrae fuse at the lower end of the spinal column, to form a large triangular bone called the Sacrum. So called because it was considered, 'sacred' - the soul or the concentration of spiritual energy is supposed to reside here.

Incidentally, this also ties in with Hindu philosophy that believes that the life force is concentrated in the form of a tightly coiled knot of energy called, Kundalini, at the base of the spine. One of the purposes of Yoga and transcendental meditation is to attempt to elevate this energy through successive levels of the vertebral column; each level achieved thus, corresponding to a more exalted spiritual and mental well being of the individual.

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